The home side were left 213 to win after dismissing the tourists for 356 in their second innings but struggled to 73 for four by the end of the fourth day's play.

New Zealand suffered a further setback when Nathan Astle retired hurt after being hit on the left hand by a rising delivery from fast bowler Javagal Srinath. The injury was later diagnosed as a fractured fourth metacarpal.

"I would give us a 60-40 chance," said Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin.

Astle: Will only bat again in an emergency

The tourists lost only one wicket in the pre-lunch session after starting the day on 179 for three and Tendulkar reached his 17th century from only 123 balls.

He shared a fifth wicket stand of 97 with Azharuddin, but New Zealand removed both within 20 minutes of the resumption. Dion Nash was the successful bowler and he finished with tidy figures of three for 20 from 15 overs.

The Kiwis made the worst possible start to their second innings when Matthew Bell was caught at short leg off Srinath in the opening over.

Captain Stephen Fleming made 17 but a piece of misjudgement brought about his downfall as he shouldered arms to a ball from leg-spinner Anil Kumble and was bowled.

Kumble also dismissed Matthew Horne for 31 and Adam Parore was run out by a brilliant piece of fileding at short leg by Rahul Dravid.

But New Zealand coach Steve Rixon insisted India's advantage was "slight and no more".

He added: "Kumble is the big danger and if we get past him with one big partnership, we'll win what's been a termendous Test match."

Scorecard (at end of third day):

India 1st innings: 208; New Zealand 1st innings: 352

India 2nd innings:

A Jadeja b Nash 22
N Sidhu lbw b Doull 34
R Dravid b Wiseman 28
S Ganguly c Bell b Wiseman 48
S Tendulkar c GFleming b Nash 113
M Azharuddin c Parore b Nash 48
N Mongia c Fleming b Doull 2
A Kumble c Nash b Vettori 23
J Srinath not out 27
V Prasad c and b Astle 0
H Singh c Horne b McMillan 1

Extras (3b, 1lb, 5nb, 1w) 10
Total (all out, 114.5 overs) 356

Fall: 1-41 2-74 3-112 4-200 5-297 6-304 7-304 8-346 9-349

Bowling: Doull 25-10-49-2, Cairns 19-2-68-0, Nash 15-9-20-3, Vettori 20-6-92-1, McMillan 9.5-2-26-1, Wiseman 19-1-90-2, Astle 7-3-7-1.

New Zealand 2nd innings:

M Bell c Dravid b Srinath 0
M Horne lbw b Kumble 31
S Fleming b Kumble 17
N Astle retired hurt 1
C McMillan not out 17
A Parore run out 1
P Wiseman not out 0

Extras (4b, 1lb, 1nb) 6
Total (for 4 wickets, 28 overs) 73

Fall: 1-0 2-42 3-51 4-67